Søren Flinch Midtgaard

Søren Flinch Midtgaard serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Aarhus University, where he conducts research at the intersection of political theory, ethics, and contemporary social dilemmas. His academic profile centers on rigorous philosophical analysis of paternalism and discrimination across diverse contexts from public health to intimate relationships.

Midtgaard's research program critically examines how ethical principles manifest in real-world scenarios, with particular focus on dating ethics, appearance-based discrimination (lookism), and the boundaries of paternalistic intervention. His work consistently bridges abstract political philosophy with empirical social phenomena, notably through experimental-philosophical approaches that incorporate public survey data to test theoretical propositions about discrimination thresholds and moral intuitions.

His publication record reveals a distinct trajectory toward integrating empirical methodologies with traditional philosophical inquiry, especially evident in recent work on reaction qualifications and online dating ethics. This scholarly evolution demonstrates how political philosophy can engage with contemporary digital culture and social dynamics while maintaining theoretical rigor. Midtgaard's contributions significantly advance discourse on when and how discrimination occurs in seemingly personal choices.

As an active academic citizen, Midtgaard serves as peer reviewer for leading journals including the Journal of Politics, Journal of Social Philosophy, and Res Publica. His methodological contributions to experimental philosophy have strengthened interdisciplinary connections between political theory and social psychology, particularly through his innovative use of survey data to ground normative claims about discrimination in public perception.